The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-02-16
IN MEMORIAM.

IN MEMORIAM.
"Blessed are the dead that d lie in the Lord
Miss Alice Bond was born near
Dover, Pope CO.. Ark, May /, 1914;
was born of God IN the fourteenth
year of her age; was married to John
J. Rye, October 10th 1861. Sister
Rye fell asleep in Jesus, January
18th, 1887. At the time of her death
she had been a member OF the M. K.
church, south, about eighteen years.
Thes writer of this tribute had
known the deceased, only few
weeks, yet he felt better acquainted
with her, than with others with
whom he has been associated for
years. She was cordial, without
parting with proper reserve; affable,
yet with sufficient dignity, devotion
al, yet needing the claims of her
family.
Sister Rye possessed charm that
is difficult Of analysis, yet clearly to
be felt. This endowment, for it is
natural when present in greatest
force, causes us to lose sight of the
childishness of old age, and the fol
bles of youth; 1t influences us TO
overlook the deficiencies OF the ig
norant ana more highly TO esteem
the cultured; it makes the awkward
appear less awkward, and the grace
ful, more graceful. She possessed
this quality in marked degree; so
much so indeed that she would have
graced any station to which she
might have been called.
Her life, her thoughts, her meth
ods, seemed to be open and direct.
In consequence of this, she avoided
troubles that are certain to follow
double dealing and insincerity. She
had no enemies, because all were her
friends.
Well may she be called the Lady
Bountiful of her ighborhood, for
her heart and hand were open to the
poor.
AS wife and mother, she was of an
elevated type. AS christian, she
carried her religion with her to the
sanctuary, carried it home again,
and used It through the week, in
the paror, the family circle, and the
kitchen.
About Christmas, Peggie, daugh-
ter just coming into womanhood, was
taken Ill of pneumonia, and soon her
life was despaired Of. The mother,
never robust, watched and tended
ber as only devoted parent can.
just as the daughter was ut her cri
sis, the mother was stricken down.
Pegeie convalesced: but Death, de
termined TO have victim, whetted
his scylhe anew and made assault so
relentless as not to be withstood.
Sister kye died shortly before dark
ness settled upon the earth. She
went with the light. o what dark
ness settled upon her household!
She left behind her parting evi-
dence that though she was passing
through the valley of the shadow OF
death, the Lords rod and staff were
comforting her. Death had captured
tie outposts, and was making his
final assault on the very citadel OF
her life. She must have been look
ing the enemy In the face and ask
ing hIm where was his sting, for, in
what we speak of as the agonies OF
dissolution, as the heart was throb.
bing It's last pulsatlons, smile OF
joy, Of victory won, settled on her
features.
That, parting smile! What an as
surance of life beyond this vale Of
tears! Our Christian spiritualism
needs no human medium, no dark
cabinet, Christ, our great high priest,
has all power In heaven and on earth,
ana he can i!lumine the faces Of bis
dying saints, IN the light as well as
in the dark
What wondrous vision she must
have had of the glories that are to be